The Great Divide

A push to make math fun is the inspiration behind a Web site called National Math Trail. The site, which receives support from the U.S. Department of Education, wants K–12 teachers and students to explore their localities and come up with math problems relating to what they find. In St. Joseph, MO, home of the Pony Express, a local middle school class created an array of related math problems. Case in point: If the cost of leaving a pony overnight at the stable was five cents, and a rider stabled his horse for an average of three nights a week, how much was his stable bill for a year? Teachers can submit problems, or "math trails," along with photos, drawings, and video files. The site is at www.nationalmathtrail.org.